Finally, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have worked out a compromise formula on the number of ministers from both sides to be included in the council of ministers. Both the ruling partners have decided to leave the contentious formula of 23-20 or 22-21 to their respective high commands.
The NCP, whose 10 ministers including deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, would complete its quota of 20 seats for now. The Congress was pressing for the induction of 23 ministers while giving 20 ministerial berths to the NCP. On the other hand, the NCP insisted it would induct 21 ministers while the Congress can give chance to 22 ministers in the 43-member council of ministers.
The consensus between the two parties has paved way for the swearing-in function, to be held tomorrow. The consensus was arrived at a meeting held between leaders of both camps.
The Congress was represented by Chavan, state party chief Manikrao Thakre and Mumbai city unit chief Kripa Shankar Singh, while party patriarch Sharad Pawar, senior leader and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state unit chief Madhukar Pichad argued on behalf of the NCP.
An NCP leader, who was present at the meeting, told Business Standard, “Our party chief had made it clear at the outset that both the parties would have to accord priority for the effective functioning of the government. He made it clear that the vexed issue of filling the ministerial posts can be left to the level of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and himself.”
He said in view of this stand, the Congress said it would not insist for the induction of 23 candidates in the council of ministers.
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The NCP leader also said there would not be any exclusion of candidates who were part of the ministry led by former minister Ashok Chavan.
A Congress leader said that the party would abide by the high command’s decision. He hoped that 18-19 candidates from the Congress would be able to take oath of office and secrecy on Thursday.
He also recalled that the chief minister, who has left to Delhi to seek final approval from the party high command for the list of candidates to be included in the cabinet, has already made it clear that the cabinet expansion would take place on Thursday and the portfolio distribution, too, would be declared the same day.